PTSD (post-traumatic stress disorder) decisions — 2021

The Board has determined that the Veteran's current PTSD is related to his in-service combat stressor, and thus grants service connection for PTSD.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's service-connected disabilities render him unable to secure and maintain substantially gainful employment, granting his TDIU claim.

The Board has denied the Veteran's claim for a TDIU due to service-connected PTSD, finding that he was not unable to secure or maintain substantially gainful employment.

The Veteran is granted a disability rating of 50 percent for PTSD from April 16, 2009 to September 27, 2019. The appeal regarding the rating in excess of 50 percent for PTSD and TDIU prior to August 12, 2016 is remanded.

The Veteran's PTSD is rated at a 100 percent disability compensation level, the highest rating possible.

The Board has remanded the case due to insufficient evidence regarding whether the Veteran's service-connected Ischemic Heart Disability and/or Posttraumatic Stress Disorder caused or contributed to his death. The VA is instructed to obtain private treatment records, arrange for a new VA opinion, and consider the articles submitted by the appellant.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for PTSD was denied, and his claims for increased ratings for DM2, right lower extremity diabetic peripheral neuropathy, left lower extremity diabetic peripheral neuropathy, and CAD were also denied. The Veteran's acquired psychiatric disorder from February 27, 2020, is not rated higher than 30 percent.

The Veteran's acquired psychiatric disability, including PTSD, and bilateral hearing loss are granted as service-connected.

The Veteran's PTSD is rated at 100% and his right lower extremity peripheral neuropathy remains at 10%. The Board granted the higher rating for PTSD, finding total occupational and social impairment.

The Board has dismissed the Veteran's claim for service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder including PTSD and a major depressive disorder. The TDIU claim is granted due to the Veteran's service-connected disabilities preventing him from securing or following substantially gainful employment.

The Board dismissed the Veteran's appeals for service connection for right shoulder impingement syndrome and increased ratings for PTSD, IVDS, and scars associated with IVDS due to his withdrawal of these claims.

The Veteran's appeal for higher ratings and service connection has been denied. The right arm disability, including the gunshot wound residuals, is not rated higher than 10 percent due to limited range of motion. A separate rating for carpal tunnel and ulnar nerve entrapment at the elbow is also remanded.

The Board has granted service connection for tinnitus. The remaining issues are remanded due to the need for additional evidence.

The Board has granted service connection for an acquired psychiatric disability, including PTSD and depression. The rating for the low back disability remains remanded.

The Board has granted service connection for tinnitus and has remanded the issue of restoring a 70 percent rating for PTSD from April 1, 2016.

The Veteran's claim for a total disability rating based on individual unemployability (TDIU) due to service-connected disabilities is remanded. The case requires additional information from the Veteran regarding his employment history and a VA examination to assess the full extent of his functional impairments.

The Veteran's claim for an initial disability rating in excess of 50 percent for his service-connected PTSD is being remanded due to incomplete records and the need for additional development.

The Veteran's PTSD is rated at 50 percent, but no higher, due to occupational and social impairment with reduced reliability and productivity.

The Veteran's fungal infections of the feet and PTSD have been granted service connection, with a disability rating of 50% for PTSD.

The Board has determined that the VA examinations provided in August 2018 are inadequate and remanded for further action. The claims of service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder, to include PTSD and depressive disorder, and a bilateral leg condition, to include chronic thrombophlebitis and deep venous thrombosis claimed as blood clots, are being returned to the RO for additional development.